Oil drain and supply system



R. J. GRAY OIL DRAIN AND SUPPLY SYSTEM Dec. 21, 1937.

Filed March 9, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR QU-SSELL J. GRAY.

ATTORN Y Ba. 21, 1937. 1 R Y 2,102,795

OIL DRAIN AND SUPPLY SYSTEM Filed March 9, 195] 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Fusseu J; GRAY I BY v Q :2. 1 v

' ATTN 1 Patented Dec. 21, 1937 PATENT OFFICE OIL DRAIN-AND SUPPLY SYSTEM Russell J. Gray, Minneapolis, Minn. Application March 9, 1931, Serial No. 521,288

18 Claims.

My invention relates to a newfand'useful oil drain and oil supply system adapted particularly for the lubrication of automobiles. My invention relates more particularly to an .oil

draining and oil supply system for the quick and efficient lubrication of automotive engines, and the gear cases of automobiles, including the draining of the old oil from the crank case thereof and the supplying of fresh oil thereto; The

object of my novel system is to provide combined oil draining and oil supplyingmeans which may be brought into operative relation to the automobile and placed out of. operative relation with respect to the same with the greatest facility and I the same arm carried by said upright stem and operatively 30 connected with the waste oil conduit thereof, and a fiuid meter operatively connected to the fresh oil conduit of said upright stem, through a control valve, and a freely flexible delivery hose extending from said'meter for delivering the fresh oil.

My invention further consists of other novel features of construction and which will appear more fully from the following detailed description.

FOr the purpose of illustratingrmy invention, I have shown in the accompanying drawings forms thereof which are at present preferred by me, since the same have been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that my invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of the instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

, Referring to the drawings in which like reference characters indicate like parts:

Figure 1 represents a vertical elevation, partly in section, of the novel oil drain and supply system embodying my invention.

Figure 2 represents a top plan view of the distributing head of the upright stem, with parts broken away.

Figure 3 represents a vertical section of the diswhich will afford the minimum amount. of ob tributing head, on a much enlarged scale, taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 represents a vertical section of the distributing head, on a similarly enlarged scale, taken at a right angle to the view shown in Figure 3;this figure being taken on line 4,4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 represents a vertical median section, on a somewhatv enlarged scale, of one of the several similar swivel joints of the horizontally extensible and adjustable drain arm.

Figure 6 represents a vertical fragmentary sectional view illustratlng a modified embodiment of the present invention wherein more than one fresh oil supply line is provided.

' The novel system of my present invention includes a fresh oil reservoir 6, which may be any suitable tank, from which the fresh oil or other lubricant is expelled by compressed air admitted through the pipe 8 from any suitable source. The vessel is a closed vessel so that the force of the compressed air on the body of fluid 'l forces the oil or other lubricant out through the vertical pipe 9 extending into proximity of the bottom of the tank 6 and into the pipe line I 0.

A final waste oil receiving reservoir II is also provided, also remotely located, preferably at a lower level than the'operativeend of the system. The waste oil receiving tank ll may be provided with a discharge pipe I2 extending near to the bottom of the tank and. a valved compressed air inlet l3 at the top of the tank whereby the accumulation of waste oil in the tank ll may be expelled at suitable intervals through the pipe I 2, by the admission of compressed air through the valved inlet I3. The waste oil receiving pipe line H enters the top of the tank II at any suitable point and is also preferably. provided with a valve I5, which is closed when it is desired to exert expelling air pressure upon the accumulated waste oil contents of the tank I l, but which is otherwise open for the admission of the waste oil into the tank II. If desired, an agitator pipe I 6 may also be provided in the tank It for admitting an agitating stream of air or steam into the tank for the purpose of facilitating the removal of accumulated waste oil and sediment. The agitating pipe I6 is also preferably valved at I 1'.

The fresh oil supply reservoir 6, as well as the waste oil receiving tank ll, may be located at any remote point, preferably under ground or in the basement of the service station or below the level of the floor. The pipes I0 and M are then led to and terminated in the lower end of the upright stem l8 which is located adjacent the automobile lift or elevator, upon which the auto mobile is lubricated and serviced. One upright stem 18 is preferably provided intermediate of each pair of adjacent automobile lifts, spaced equidistantly therefrom. The upright stem I8 is preferably rigidly anchored in the floor l9, by any suitable means and is formed of two concentric hollow tubular members 20 and 2! respectively. The outer tubular member 20 of the upright stem it may contain within it a single concentric inner tubular member 2!, or it may contain within it several similar inner tubular members 2!. In the particular embodiment of my invention shown in Figures 1 and 3, the outer tubular member 28, forming part of the upright stem 18, contains only one inner tubular member 2|, in concentric relation thereto. In the modified embodiment of my invention shown particularly in Figure 6, the outer tubular member 25, forming part of the upright stem 13 contains more than one inner tubular member 2!, that is, two tubular members 2!.

Figure 4 equally well represents a sectional view of the head shown in Figure 6 at a right angle to the section on which FigureG is-taken, except for the screw-threaded inlet opening 33.

To the lower end of the upright stem l8, preferably projecting beneath the floor I9, a T fitting 22 is secured, the two large and opposed ends 23 and 24 of which are secured to the lower end of the outer tubular member 25, and to the terminal of the pipe line M, respectively, thereby operatively connecting the outer tubular member 25 with the pipe line H. Through a suitable opening 25 in the side of the T fitting 22, the inner tubular member 2| extends and connects with the pipe line ilk-thereby operatively connecting said pipe line It with the inner tubular member 2%. These connections may be screwthreaded or otherwise suitably formed. Upon the upper end 26 of the upright stem 8, a distributing head 2'! is provided, having a large outer screw-threaded opening 28, at the bottom thereof, which is screw-threaded onto the upper terminal of the outer tubular member 25. The large bottom opening 28 of the distributing head 2'! communicates with the waste oil chamber 29 within said distributing head;-said chamber having a pair of opposed horizontal or lateral openings 3% and 3! respectively, also preferably screw-threaded as indicated in'Figure 4.; Within the distributing head 21 is a smaller chamber 32, separated from the chamber 29 by the integral wall structure within the distributing head. The horizontal axis of the chamber 32 is preferably disposed at a right angle to the horizontal axis of the larger chamber 29. The chamber 32 is provided with the lower opening 33, in which the upper end of the inner tubular member 21 terminates, and the pair of opposed, and also internally threaded horizontal openings 3 and 35 respectively.

Into the two opposed horizontal openings 3E! and 3!, the fixed ends 36 and 3'! respectively, of the two drain arms 38 and 39 are rigidly secured, by means of the screw-threads. Into the openings 34 and 35, elbow members 45 and Al are secured, which turn upwardly and into which valves 42 and 13 respectively, are secured. To the valves 42 and 43, corresponding liquid flow meters 44 and 45 respectively, are secured. To the discharge openings of said meters 44 and 45, the flexible hoses 35 and 41 respectively, are secured;-the latter having corresponding valved nozzles 48 and 69 respectively.

The drain arms 38 and 39 (shown partly broken away in Figure l) are formed of a series of horizontal tubular members 56, the ends of which are rigidly and permanently secured in the tubular swivel joints 5| illustrated more particularly in detail in Figure 5. Each of the swivel joints is formed of a lower casting 52 and an upper casting 53, each having the horizontal tube-receiving ends 54 and 55, respectively; said upper casting 55 having a downwardly depending reduced diameter swivel stem 56, which projects into a vertical opening in the lower easting 52, having substantially the same diameter the vertical weight or thrust between the two members being taken by juxtaposed and abutting shoulders 51 and 58 respectively, said shoulders being finished, as by grinding, with sufiicient accuracy so that a substantial metal to metal seal is obtained. A look bolt 59 having its lower screw-threaded end 60 anchored in acorresponding screw-threaded opening in the lower casting 52, extends through a corresponding and aligned opening 6! in the upper casting 53, and carries a .lock nut 52 at its outer end, by means oi which the axial or vertical separation of the telescoped swivel members 52 and 53 is prevented;without however, interfering with the free swivel action or movement between said swivel members about the vertical axis.

The horizontal tubes 53 are preferably telescoped or inserted into the horizontal ends 54 and 55 and are either screw-threaded or welded or braised, for extreme rigidity and security. To the free or outer end of the uppermost horizontal tubular member 50, a drain cup, funnel, or pan 63 is permanently secured for receiving the oil or other lubricant as it flows from the crank case or gear case.

In the top of the casting constituting the distributing head 21, a suitable internally threaded hole 64 is provided, into which an upright post 65 is threadedly secured. To the post 65, opposed brackets or hangers t6 are secured, upon which the nozzle ends 48 and 49 of the hoses 46 and 41 may be hung or rested when not in use.

In theinstallation of this system, the upright stem l 8 is so arranged, and the height of the stem as well as the lengths of the tubular arm members 50 are so proportioned, that the height of the cup 63 will fit directly beneath (with suitable clearance) the drain opening of the crank case or the drain opening of the gear case of an automobile, when the latter is in an elevated position upon the lift, and so that the laterally extensible drain arms 383 and 39 will be sufficiently extensible to enable the cup 63 to reach any one of the several drain openings on the automobile. The lengths of the tubular arm members 5!] and the ultimate or effective length of the drain arms 38 and 39 as a whole, is therefore dependent'upon the spacing between the adjacent car lifts.

When the system is not in use, the extensible drain arms 38 and 38 are in the retracted condition shown in Figure 1 (the arm 38 being shown broken away-being identical with the arm 39). When it is desired to use the drain arms 38 and 39, they are extended, by means of the swivel joints thereof, until the cup 53 is positioned directly beneath the drain opening of the automobile. The drain opening is then opened and the waste oil or other lubricant is drained into the cup 53, through the drain arms 38 and 39 and through the outer tubular member 25 of the upright stem 18, into the ultimate waste oil receiver H. Here the waste oil may be stored until disposed of.

After draining, and after the drain opening has been closed, the drain arm 38 or 39 is again retracted so as to be clear of the-car lift and fresh oil is then delivered from the nozzle 48 or 49 into the crank case or gear case of the automobile;- the amount of the oil or lubricant being registered by the meter 44 or 45.

I may also provide an upright stem l 8 in association with the distributing head 21 for actuating or supplying more than one fresh oil line. In this modification of my invention, the distributing head would be provided with a corresponding number of fresh oil chambers 32, separated from each other, and corresponding outlets and corresponding meters and hoses. Thus, if desired, a flushing oil may be supplied through one of the fresh oil lines 2|, for first flushing out the crank case or gear case of the automobile, to remove all traces of the old lubricant, before the fresh lubricant is filled in through the other fresh oil line 2!. So too, several different grades of lubricant may thus be supplied through a distributing head having multiple oil outlets although having but a single drain inlet. In this modification, a

single tank 6 would be provided for each of the separate fresh oil supply lines.

In the illustration of this modified form. of my present invention-shown in Figure 6, I have shown one embodiment of the many conventional plumbing expedients available for convenient assembly of the multiplicity of fresh oil lines 2| within the outertubular housing 20. Thus, as illustrated, the two oil supply tubes 2| may be tapered at their upper and lower ends, and these tapered ends be adapted for sealing contact with correspondingly tapered internal openings in the head and base fittings.

The stand tube 20 may be provided with oppositely (left and right) threaded ends adapted for screw-threaded engagement with similarly oppositely screw-threaded openings in the head and base fittings, respectively. The assembly may be effected by inserting the lower tapered ends of the inner lubricant supply lines 2| into their correspondingly tapered seats of the base fitting, then slipping the stand tube 20 over these inner tubes 2| and finally by superimposing the head fitting upon said stand tube, care being taken to insure that the upper tapered ends of the lubricant supply lines have entered their respective internal tapered seats of the head fitting. The stand tube 20 may then screw-threadedly engage with and simultaneously enter into theadjoining openings of the head and base fittings by rotating the stand tube, thus causing these fittings to forcibly approach each other and effectively seat the tapered lubricant supply pipe ends into the correspondingly tapered fitting openings until a sufficiently effective seal has been obtained. The degree of taper has been exaggerated in Figure 6 for the sake of clarity, it being'understood that a more gradual taper is customary as giving greater and more effective sealing contact area. Other methods of assembly may, however, be resorted to without departing from the scope of the present invention, for such expedients as unions, couplings, slip joints and oppositely threaded pipe ends are all well-known in the plumbing art, and I do not limit myself to the particular assembly means shown in Figure 6.

While in the drawings, I have merely illustrated an embodiment of my invention for use in connection with lifts which rise from the floor level, my system is equally applicable to the pi type of service station, in which the car is not elevated by means of lifts, but in which the car is merely run onto tracks or runways, on the fioor level, by ext-ending over open working pits below the floor level. In this pit type of service station, relation between the upright stem and the car remains the same, so that the entire oil drain and supply tree shown particularly in Figure 1 is mounted at a lower level.

The stationary upright stem is so arranged with respect to the pair of adjacent car lifts or car supports .that sufficient room is provided between each car and the upright stem to permit the operator to walk to and fro. 'When the drain arms are not in use,'they are folded up to their minimum length and arranged generally parallel to the line of the lifts or parallel to the car, so that when not in use, the maximum working space is provided for the operator and when in use, the obstruction is still reduced to a minimum.

I. am aware that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and I therefore desire the present embodiments to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I hereby claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

- 1. In a fixture of the class described, a tubular support, means for mounting said support on a floor surface, a swivelly mounted arm extending laterally from said support, an oil receiving cup on the outer end of said arm, means for conducting oil from said cup through said support and from said support to a place of deposit, a gear lubricant hose carried on said tubular support and means extending through and concealed by said tubular support to supply gear lubricant to said gear lubricant hose.

'2. In a fixture of the class described, a tubular support including a fitting having an internal elbow, means for mounting said support on a floor surface, an arm extending laterally from said support, a liquid receiving cup on the outer end of said arm, means for conducting liquid from said cup through said support past said elbow and from said support to a place of deposit, means for supplying fluid to said elbow, a pipe connected with said elbow and extending through said tubular support and a flexible hose connected with said pipe.

3. In a device of the class described, a fitting having an internal elbow, a tubular support extending therefrom, a fluid supply pipe within said tubular support and having one end connected with said elbow, a fitting on the other end of said tubular support having an internal elbow connected with the other end of said fluid supply pipe and a liquid receiving arm and a fluid supply hose connected with said last fitting and its internal elbow respectively.

4. In a fixture of the class described, a tubular support, means for mounting said support on a floor surface, a swivelly mounted arm extending laterally from said support, an oil receiving cup on the outer end'of said arm, means for conducting oil from said cup through said support and from said support to a place of deposit and gear lubricant supply means extending through and concealed-by said tubular support.

5. In a fixture of the class described, a tubular support, including a T'fitting having an internal elbow, means for mounting said support on a fioor surface, an arm extending laterally from said support, an oil receiving cup on the outer end of said arm, means for conducting oil from said cup through said support past said elbow and from said'support to a place of deposit, means for supplying lubricant to said elbow, a pipe connected with said elbow and extending through said tubular support, and a flexible hose connected with said pipe. 7

6. In a fixture of the class described, a tubular support, including a T fitting having an internal elbow, means for mounting said support on a floor surface, an arm extending laterally from said support, an oil receiving cup on the outer end of said arm, means for conducting oil from said cup through said support past said elbow and from said support to a place of deposit, means for supplying lubricant to said elbow, a pipe connected with said elbow and extending through said tubular support, a discharge hose connected with said pipe, and a valve controlled nozzle on the outer end of said hose.

'7. For use with an automobile lift, an upstanding tubular support adapted to be mounted on a floor adjacent said lift, a swivelly mounted tubular arm extending laterally therefrom and communicating therewith, an oil receiving cup on the outer end of said arm and communicating therewith, and lubricant supply means extending through and concealed by said tubular support.

8. In a device of the class described, a T fitting having an internal elbow, a tubular support extending therefrom, a lubricant supply pipe within said tubular support and having one end connected with said elbow, a fitting on the other end of said tubular support having an internal elbow connected with the other end of said lubricant supply pipe, and a waste oil receiving arm and a lubricant supply hose connected with said last fitting and its internal elbow respectively.

9. In a fixture of the class described, a tubular support including a fitting having an internal elbow, means for mounting said support on a floor surface, an arm extending laterally from said support, a liquid receiving cup on the outer end of said arm, means for conducting liquid from said cup through said support past said elbow and from said support to a place of deposit, means for supplying fluid to said elbow, a pipe connected with said elbow and extending through said tubular support, a discharge hose connected with said pipe and a valve controlled nozzle on the outer end of said hose.

10. An oil drain and supply system including a hollow support adapted to be mounted on a floor surface and including a waste oil conduit and a fresh oil conduit concealed therein, a remote fresh oil supply reservoir connected with the aforesaid fresh oil conduit, means tending to expel the oil from said reservoir, a waste oil receiver connected with said waste oil conduit, a horizontally and laterally extensible and adjustable waste oil collector pipe carried by said hollow support and operatively connected with the waste oil conduit thereof, a fluid meter operatively connected to said fresh oil conduit, a flexible delivery hose extending from said meter for delivering fresh oil and a valve controlling the flow of fresh oil through said flexible delivery hose and said meter.

11. Oil drain and supply apparatus of the class described, including a hollow support adapted to be mounted on a floor surface, a swivelly mounted arm extending laterally from said support, an oil-receiving cup on the outer end of said arm, means for conducting oil from said cup into said hollow support and to a receptacle of deposit, a gear lubricant hose carried on said 'hollow support and means extending through and concealed by said hollow support to supply gear lubricant to said gear lubricant hose.

12. Oil drain and supply apparatus of the class described, including a hollow support adapted to be mounted on a floor surface, an extensibly mounted oil-receiving cup carried by said hollow support, means for conducting oil from said cup into said hollow support and to a place of deposit, and gear lubricant supply means extending through and concealed by said hollow support.

13. An oil drain and supply device of the class described, including an upstanding hollow support adapted to be mounted on a floor adjacent an automobile lift and for use therewith, an extensibly mounted tubular arm extending from said hollow support and communicating therewith, an oil-receiving cup on the outer end of said tubular arm and communicating therewith, and lubricant supply means extending through and concealed by said hollow support.

14. In a device of the class described, a base, a hollow support extending upwardly therefrom, a fitting at the upper end of said hollow support, a swivel arm extending laterally from said fitting, an oil-receiving cup on the outer end of said arm, a lubricant supply conduit extending through said hollow support and concealed thereby and a flexible lubricant supply hose carried by said support exteriorly thereof and communicating with said last named conduit.

15. In a device of the class described, a base, a hollow support extending upwardly therefrom, a fitting at the upper end of said hollow support, a swivel arm extending laterally from said fitting, an oil-receiving cup on the outer end of said arm, lubricant suppiy means extending through said hollow support, and concealed thereby, a fluid meter connected with said lubricant supply means, and a flexible hose exteriorly of said hollow support and connected with said fluid meter and terminating in a discharge nozzle.

16. In a device of the class described, a base, a hollow support extending upwardly therefrom, a fitting at the upper end of said hollow support, a swivel arm extending laterally from said fitting, a liquid-receiving cup on the outer end of said arm, a liquid supply conduit extending through said hollow support and concealed thereby and a flexible liquid supply hose carried by said support exteriorly thereof and communicating with said last named conduit.

17. In a fixture of the character described, a base fitting, a stand tube superposed thereon, a head fitting superposed on said stand tube, a pair of dispensing hoses extending from said head fittings. pair of lubricant supply pipes extending to said base fitting and a pair of tubular members connecting said fittings and conducting oil from said lubricant supply pipes to said lubricant supply hoses.

18. In a fixture of the class described, a base fitting, a head fitting, a stand tube interposed between said fittings and means common to said fittings and extending through said stand tube for connecting said fittings to each other and for conducting fluid introduced to one of said fittings from said fitting through said stand tube to the other fitting for delivery therefrom.

RUSSELL J. GRAY. 

